The link between the electrogenic and redox functions of the plasmalemma and the energy metabolism of the cell

A dependence of the plasmalemma redox activity, determined by the reduction of external electron acceptors (ferricyanide, nitro-blue tetrazolium), on the energy state of the cell, which was modified by light conditions or introduction of glucose into the media, was shown on leaves of Elodea canadensis Rich. Glucose (10 m M ) and light (40 W m^-2) caused hyperpolarization of the membrane potential and stimulated the redox activity of the plasmalemma. 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) completely inhibited the light activation of electrogenic and redox functions of the plasmalemma. The light saturation intensity for membrane potential and ferricyanide reductase activity was 10–30% of the light saturation of photosynthesis. Membrane potential, K⁺ transport and plasmalemma redox activity changed in parallel in response to light and darkness and when DCMU was added. Ferricyanide reductase activity is suggested to be a simple parameter for characterizing the energy state of the cell. The functional significance of the light-induced hyperpolarization of the membrane potential is discussed.     

A rapid non-destructive assay to quantify soybean nodule gas permeability

The low gas permeability of a diffusion barrier in the cortex of soybean nodules plays a significant role in the protection of nitrogenase from oxygen inactivation. It may also set an upper limit on nodule respiration and nitrogen fixation rates. Two methods which have been used to quantify the gas permeability of leguminous nodules are reviewed and found to be unreliable. A new assay technique for determining both the nodule activity and gas permeability is developed and tested. This ‘lag-phase’ assay is based on the time nodules require to reach steady-state ethylene production after being exposed to acetylene. The technique is rapid, insensitive to errors in biochemical parameters associated with nitrogenase, and is non-destructive. The method was tested with intact aeroponically grown soybean plants for which the mean nodule gas permeability was found to be 13.3×10⁻³ mms⁻¹. This corresponds to a layer of cells approximately 35 um thick and is consistent with previously reported values.     

Soybean nodule gas permeability,nitrogen fixation and dirunal cycles in soil temperature

While diurnal cycles in nitrogen fixation rates are sometimes assumed to result from diurnal variation in photosynthetically active radiation, contradicting evidence exists that indicate soil temperature is the primary environmental influence. These studies assessed the significance of temperature on soybean nitrogen fixation under field conditions. Two groups of intact field-grown soybean plants, one at ambient and the other exposed to a 10°C diurnal variation in soil temperature, were nondestructively assayed for acetylene reduction rates. Activity was closely associated with soil temperature (R²=0.85), even when temperature was 12 h out of phase with ambient. Data were also obtained to determine if the effects of rhizosphere temperature on nitrogen fixation are mediated through an effect on the nodule oxygen permeability. Nodule oxygen permeability of intact, aeroponically grown soybean was closely correlated with the diurnal changes in temperature (R²=0.90).     

Phosphate sequestration by glycerol and its effects on photosynthetic carbon assimilation by leaves

Glycerol induced a limitation on photosynthetic carbon assimilation by phosphate when supplied to leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). This limitation by phosphate was evidenced by (i) reversibility of the inhibition of photosynthesis by glycerol by feeding orthophosphate (ii) a decrease in light-saturated rates of photosynthesis and saturation at a lower irradiance, (iii) the promotion of oscillations in photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation and in chlorophyll fluorescence, (iv) decreases in the pools of hexose monophosphates and triose phosphates and increases in the ratio of glycerate-3-phosphate to triose phosphate, (v) decreased photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence, and increased non-photochemical quenching, specifically of the component which relaxed rapidly, indicating that thylakoid energisation had increased. In barley there was a massive accumulation of glycerol-3-phosphate and an increase in the period of the oscillations, but in spinach the accumulation of glycerol-3-phosphate was comparatively slight. The mechanism(s) by which glycerol feeding affects photosynthetic carbon assimilation are discussed in the light of these results.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - C _i intercellular concentration of CO₂ - P phosphate - PGA glycerate-3-phosphate - Pi orthophosphate - triose-P sum of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate     

Limitation of photosynthesis by changes in temperature

The aim of this work was to examine the effect of abrupt changes in temperature in the range 5 to 30°C upon the rate of photosynthetic carbon assimilation in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Measurement of the CO₂-assimilation rate in relation to the intercellular partial pressure of CO₂ at different temperatures and O₂ concentrations and at saturating irradiance showed that as the temperature was decreased photosynthesis was saturated at progressively lower CO₂ partial pressures and that the transition between the CO₂-limited and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate-regeneration-limited rate became more abrupt. Feeding of orthophosphate to leaves resulted in an increased rate of CO₂ assimilation at lower temperatures at around ambient or higher CO₂ partial pressures both in 20% O₂ and in 2% O₂ and it removed the abruptness in the transition between the CO₂-limited and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate-regeneration-limited rates. Phosphate feeding tended to inhibit carbon assimilation at higher temperatures. The response of carbon assimilation to temperature was altered by feeding orthophosphate, by changing the concentrations of CO₂ or of O₂ or by leaving plants in the dark at 4°C for several hours. Similarly, the response of carbon assimilation to phosphate feeding or to changes in 2% O₂ was altered by leaving the plants in the dark at 4°C. The mechanism of limitation of photosynthesis by an abrupt lowering of temperature is discussed in the light of the results.Abbreviations A rate of CO₂ assimilation - P _i intercellular partial pressure of CO₂ - RuBP ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate     

Asymmetric Reduction of 4-Oxoisophorone Using Immobilized Thermophilic Bacteria Under Conditions of Controlled Cell Growth

Asymmetric reduction of 2,6,6,-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-l,4-dione (4-oxoisophrone) to (6R)-2,2,6-trimethyl-1,4-cyclohexane-dione((3R)-dihydro-4-oxoisophorone) was catalysed by immobilized thermophilic bacteria, Thermomonospora curvata JTS 321. Because of leakage of entrapped cells from gel beads during reactions using culture medium, we optimized the medium to allow the microbial conversion under conditions of controlled cell growth. Of the media screened, liver infusion medium was found to be the most suitable and microbial conversion was achieved without cell leakage from the immobilized gels. Immobilized T. curvata cells were repeatedly used for the asymmetric reduction of 4-oxoisophorone, more than 15 times, with an extent of conversion of 50%.     

Non-coordinate expression of collagen mRNAs during carbon monoxide-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Collagen gene expression during volume overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was investigated in adult male rats. Hypertrophy of the left ventricle (22%) and right ventricle (37%) occurred following 27 days continuous exposure to 700 ppm carbon monoxide; hematocrit increased nearly 47%. To examine potential cellular and molecular control of restructuring in the heart, we investigated the expression of two specific procollagen mRNAs for collagen types which have different structural-functional roles [Type I (alpha-1) & Type IV]. Type I (interstitial) mRNA levels increased at least 100% relative to controls within 3 days of initial exposure to 700ppm CO, then declined afterwards; type IV(basement membrane) mRNA levels increased more modestly at first, and increased further afterwards. The ratio of type I/type IV RNA's also increased initially, then later declined, with the greatest differences in the relative responses of type I and IV mRNAs seen in the right ventricle. These data suggest that types I and IV collagen mRNA expression is not coordinately expressed during this type of volume overload-induced hypertrophy in rat heart.     

四氯化碳中毒对大鼠离体再生肝细胞钾离子外漏的影响

本工作用三种剂量四氯化碳(CCl_4,10,15和20mmol/L)损伤正常大鼠离体肝细胞,分别在5,10,15和20min测定细胞内K~+和GPT漏出量。实验观察到细胞内K~+和GPT漏出量与CCl_4染毒的剂量和时间有明显关系,而且K~+漏出量较GPT更能灵敏地反映细胞的损伤程度;用中等剂量CCl_4(15mmol/L)损伤离体再生肝细胞20min后,细胞内K~+漏出的变化百分数明显低于正常肝细胞。这些结果表明,大鼠离体再生肝细胞具有较强的抗CCl_4损伤作用,其机制可能与再生肝细胞膜稳定性较强有关。     

A continuous-culture approach to the question of inorganic carbon concentration by Synechococcus species

Abstract Chemostat cultures of Synechococcus PCC7942 were established in steady state over ten generations with inorganic carbon-limiting biomass production. The bicarbonate-concentration process was not significantly induced; RuBisCo activity was increased six-fold with decreasing dissolved inorganic carbon concentration and the presence of the 42-kDa cytoplasmic membrane polypeptide was observed but not implicated in the process.     

Anaerobic growth on elemental sulfur using dissimilar iron reduction by autotrophic Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Abstract Anaerobic growth on elemental sulfur using dissimilar iron reduction by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans has been demonstrated. The ferric ion reducing activity (FIR) of the anaerobic cells was double that of the aerobic cells. Significant differences in inhibition of FIR by respiratory inhibitors were observed between aerobic and anaerobic cells. A higher amount of cytochrome was detected in anaerobic cells compared to aerobic cells. Absorption minima developed with the addition of ferric sulfate in the dithionite reduced cell suspension demonstrated that the ferric ion could accept electrons from the cytochrome system of this bacterium. The possibility of two different electron transport chains in ferric ion reduction is discussed.